Tray guard rail protector



D811- 1942- N. A. ZERVOS 2,304,296

TRAY GUARD RAIL PROTECTOR Filed June 10, 1940 WW r Patented Dec. 8, 1942 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE TRAY GUARD RAIL PROTECTOR Nicholas A. Zervos, Cincinnati, Ohio I Application June 10,1940, Serial No. 339,636

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hand trays such as used in restaurants by waiters in the distribution of food. In the conventional tray thereis provided only a small inclined Wall to retain glasses, plates and other articles in position during transit and it is a well known fact that accidents often occur, particularly in crowded restaurants where it is necessary that the waiter swing the tray or incline it while moving from table to table. When a conventional tray is in use under such conditions it is not uncommon for plates, dishes and glassware to slide and in so doing they engage the inclined wall and upset, resulting not only in the expense of replacing of articles but also in damage to patrons who may be in the vicinity where such accident may occur.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a tray with a guard rail which will prevent articles on a tray in transit from upsetting or slipping off the tray while the latter is being moved in service.

A further object of the invention is to provide a guard rail which may be folded below the side walls of the tray, when the latter is not in use so that increased storage area will not be necessary in stacking the device after its use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a service tray with guardframes which may be retained in either vertical or horizontal position; that is, which may be retained in position either,

during use or while in storage.

Other objects and features will more clearly hereinafter appear by reference t the accompanying drawing, specification and claims forming a part of this application, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section on lines 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section of a portion of the tray with the guard frame in vertical position. a

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the spring for locking the frame.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. '7 is a transverse fragmentary section of the modified form shown in Fig. 6.

Referring now to the preferred form of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the tray comprises a bottom I, inclined side walls 2, end walls 3 and curved connecting corner portions 4. The wall formed by these parts is provided with a illustrated in Fig. 3, this bead reinforcing the assembly heretofore described. The side walls 2-2 are formed with vertically spaced slots 6 which extend substantially from the upper face of the bottom I up to the lower edge of the bead 5. These slots are spaced equidistant from each end wall 3 and inward of the end walls a suitable distance to properly support a frame to be attached. At each side of each of the slots 6 and at approximately the bottom of each of these slots there is fixed to the outer face of the wall 2 the spaced apertured lugs I and 3 forming hinge parts between which the intermediate hinge part 9 is to be positioned. This latter hinge part 9 is formed with a transverse opening or aperture to be aligned with the apertures in the hinge parts 1 and 8 and through whichthe hinge rod 18 extends. The hinge part II! is of such a length as to extend through the hinge assembly at each slot 6 and the extremities of the hinge rods are enlarged or distorted as at H to assist in retaining the same in position. The hinge parts 9 are fixed to the rods 10 and are connected to or form an integral part of the vertical legs I2 of the side guard frame M. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 1 that the side guard frames !4 each include an elongated longitudinal rod l4 and the depending or vertical rods [2 heretofore mentioned, and which are connected to or form an integral part of the intermediate hinge elements 9. Thus, it will be seen that each of the side guards formed by elements l2 and M comprehend a unit which may be swung to either vertical or horizontal position, the first position being when in use to retain articles from being dislodged from the tray bottom and the latter being when folded. In the folded position it will be noted that because of the position of the hinges at the bottom of the slots 6, the guard rails will be substantially in contact with the bottom surface I of the tray.

Both of the side walls 2 are provided with the same type of guard rail, mounted in the same manner and of such a height that when folded they will not overlap. This will be evidenced by an inspection of the assembly in folded position in Fig. 1.

Each of the end walls 3 is similarly equipped. However, the slots to accommodate the uprights l5 of the end guard frames do not extend down to the bottom surface I of the tray but, as shown in Fig. 3, terminate at 16 which is a point approximately in a plane defined by the tops of the side guard frames when in their folded position. This continuous upper marginal bead 5, more clearly rran em nt s provided in order that the end guard frames, when folded, are moved to a position above the side frames M to accomplish a proper stacking of the parts. The end frames include the transverse top rails l6 which correspond to the longitudinal top rails Id of the side frames heretofore described as well as the verticals l5.

In order that each of the guard frames may be retained in either vertical service position or in horizontal folded position, spring clips are arranged at each of the hinges or at one hinge only of each frame as may be desired. These spring clips may constitute, as shown in the instant disclosure, merely leaf springs having shanks l1 enclosing portions of the hinge rods and lateral extremities l8 providing ears through which fastening means may extend. The free end of the leaf spring I 9 overliesthe intermediate hinge portion 9, which as heretofore stated, may represent th extremities of the uprights l2 and I of the guard frames.

These hinged sections 9 have squared faces so positioned that the free end of the leaf spring will engage the same snugly to render maximum resistance to the movement of the parts. By this arrangement, when one of the frame assemblies isshifted either horizontally or vertically, this movement will be resisted by the spring until themovement has reached its maximum limit at which points the parts are firmly retained in place.

In Figs. 6 and '7 a modified structure is illustrated. In this form of the development, the inclined side and end Walls 2 and 3 are slotted to receive vertical tubes which are of such a length as to be confined below the side walls and above the bottom of the tray. These tubes are indicated by reference character and may be of any number or arrangement although the present illustration merely shows two of each wall portions. These tubes receive the lower ends of uprights forming a part of rectangular frames constituting removable guard frame sections. Each of the guard frame sections include top rail- 2 I, spaced uprights 22 and intermediate brace 23, the latter connecting the uprights 22 at a point intermediate its length and defining the depth to which the bottoms of the uprights 22 are to be inserted into its socket 28. It will be seen that the intermediate brace 23 will rest upon the top surface of the side wall and limit and guide the setting of the guard frame.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by 7 Letters Patent is:

1. A tray including a bottom, side and end wall portions, spaced slots provided in each wall portion, guard rails adapted to be positioned above said wall portions, hinge sections fixed on the bottom faces of said side and end wall portions adjacent said slots, hinge sections carried by said guard rails and extending through said slots for cooperating with the hinge sections on said walls, and means for securing the hinge sections in hinged relation, whereby said guard rails may be swung from vertical to horizontal position.

2. A tray including a bottom, side and end wall portions, guard rails adapted to be positioned above said Wall portions, spaced fixed hinged sections fixed to the side and end walls,

spaced hinged sections carried by said guard rails for cooperation with the hinged sections fixed on said walls, means retaining the hinged sections in hinged relation, and means engaging the hinge sections of the guardrails for securing, the guard rails in their vertical and horizontal positions.

3. A tray including a bottom, and side and end walls, guard rails including vertical members and horizontal members substantially rigid therewith, said vertical members extending below. said walls and having their lower extremities hingedly fixed thereto, and means engaging portions of said vertical members for retaining the, guard rails in adjusted position.

4. The substance of claim 3 characterized in that the vertical members are provided with angular flattened surfaces which are engaged by elements secured to the bottom faces of the sideand end walls.

5. The substance of claim 3 characterized in that the vertical members are provided with arrgularly arranged flattened portions which areengaged by leaf springs for securing the guard rails in adjusted position.

6. In a tray including a bottom, and side and rails to removably retain the-latter in adjusted.

NICHOLAS A. ZERVOS.

position. 

